How do i handle my "mean" boss? I go out of my way and she still isn't happy.?

Question

I was recently promoted at my company.. My new boss was begging me to work for her and i took the job. Now, what all she does is talk down to me and blame me for stuff i didn't even do, like loosing papers or taking things out of order. I put in one hundred and ten percent and she treats me like a total piece of garbage, embarrasses me and talks down to me in front of co workers. The other day i came back from vacation and didnt get home till 5 in the morning cause my plane was delayed and she said in front of everyone "what are you on todday" and she knew i was tired (bc i made a mistake) she is rude, obnoxious and promised me "more Pay" and i havent seen that yet. I need this job because i need experience until i can find a better job so im out of luck here. i need to be at this position for at least a year and its only the 2nd month. should i report her to the higher ups or just take the abuse and embarassement. I work really hard and she knows it...why is she doing this?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like your boss is taking advantage of you.

Legally, there isn't any action you can take. But maybe some psychological warfare is in order.

You need to call the bluff so to speak. Tell her you are dissatisfied with the working conditions at present and demand the promised raise immediately.

Threaten to transfer to another department if this demand is not met.

Be firm and do not back down from any argument you may receive. And she will certainly try to wiggle out of this unless I miss my guess.

If you are truly a valuable employee and she knows it, she will not risk losing you to someone less competent.

Answer 2

Have you been watching The Devil Wears Prada once too often? "Needing to stay on the job a year..." That's the same excuse that the underling character Andi used for why she put up with her abusive boss Amanda Priestly. I guess you have to ask yourself if it's worth it...and only you can decide...but most of the time, it is NOT worth it.

Don't believe all that hype about how you "need" to stay on a job for a year. All that stuff is pure manipulative propoganda, and is used extensively in the underpaid "glamour" fields where "a million girls would kill for that job." as well as in routine occupational fields, too.

Staying in a job you hate and rips your soul to pieces every day only works in the boss's favor, not the employee's. What your boss is doing is employing discipline via the old carrot and stick routine...don't fall for it and don't waste precious years of your life in the proceses. Sure, you may find yourself with a promotion a year down the road...or you may wind up having a nervous breakdown, or you may get stuck on that job for several years with NO promotion in sight while you get passed over by other people left and right...and even worse? you get to train every single successor! Happens all the time. NOT a pretty sight, either. People stuck in that situation wait years and years for things to change, but they never do...and then they wind up hating themselves and it carries over into their private life and they make everyone else miserable, too. Life's too short for that stuff.

Trust me, it won't get any better. Complaining to higher ups is useless, too, because they don't really care how the person who is doing the work feels...they only care that the work done...by any means necessary. In fact, you could get reprecussions for going "over her head" and SHE wind up with a raise because she's perceived as such an effective, take charge boss! Not fair, but that's the cold hard facts of the workplace.

No job, I repeat, NO JOB is worth compromising your basic values, your physical or emotional health, and this is what will happen if you work for someone whom you know is a tyrant or a bully and has no respect for you whatsoever. Get out of there pronto...even if you have to take a lesser paying, lower prestige job in order to do so.

Answer 3

There's no law against a boss being a jerk. If there were, we'd need to build a LOT more prisons.

Unless her actions rise to the level of unlawfull harassment - which they don't unless they're based on your gender, race, etc - there's no "legal" steps you can take.

You can talk to her boss, request a sit-down with some third party present as a mediator, even take her out for a drink after work and just chat about it - but beyond that the choice, I'm afraid, is "like it or lump it". You put up with her, or you quit.

Richard

Answer 4

There isn't really much that can be done unless it falls into the category of criminal harassment.

It is incredibly unprofessional to speak ill of you in front of co-workers. To start you may want to see if you can work something out with your boss directly. Suggest that if she does have something she would like to discuss with you in reference to your performance you are always available to meet with her in a private meeting to discuss. Emphasize that you appreciate honest feedback and would be happy to discuss with her how you can improve at you job in a private setting.

If this fails definitely talk to the human resources department.